Connection to the Hunter Valley – Matron Margarita Veenman was born in Newcastle.  She graduated from Newcastle Hospital in 1901 and worked there until 1911 when she became Matron of Balmain Hospital.  Margarita was obviously very highly regarded by the Newcastle community – when she left Newcastle Hospital she was honoured with a presentation in the Council Chambers.

Service – Australian  Army Nursing Service (AANS)

Service location – Margarita joined in 1915 and became Matron of No 4 Australian General Hospital Randwick.  This hospital received sick and wounded Australian troops returning from overseas.  She also served on hospital ships in 1918-1919.

Medals, awards and mentions – British War Medal, Victory Medal and Associate of the Royal Red Cross.

References:

National Archives of Australia B2455 VEENMAN MARGARITA

Nominal Roll of the First AIF Australian War Memorial (AWM) AWM133, 54-016

Embarkation Roll of the First AIF AWM Hospital Transport Corps (May 1915 – September 1918)

Supplement to London Gazette, 23 February 1917, (“Veenan”)

Sydney Morning Herald, 20 September 1916 & 21 December 1917 retrieved from Trove 22 July 2011; 30 June 1919, retrieved from Trove 27 July 2010

Sydney Mail, 22 September 1915, 3 January 1917 & 28 August 1918

Newcastle Morning Herald, 29 May 1911 & 29 May 1911

Australasian Nurses’ Journal, Vol XV No 3 March 1917, No 4 April 1917, Vol XVI No 10 October 1918

Audrey Armitage, A Golden Age of Nursing, Royal Newcastle Hospital Graduates’ Association Book Committee, Newcastle, 1991

_______________________

© Christine Bramble 2013